Prostate Cancer Blog

Posts Tagged ‘age’

Is it possible to have colon cancer, and yet only have one symptom, which is abdominal discomfort, which is on and off and can be absent for months and then come back, at age 21- and again, no other symptoms except the on and off discomfort pain, which usually is only there in the morning the days it does appear?

It is very possible to have colon cancer with no symptoms at all.
Abdominal pain is not an early warning symptom for colon cancer. Intermittent abdominal pain in a 21 year old is far more likely to be caused by a benign disorder rather than a malignancy of the colon or a cancer of any other kind in the abdomen.

It would be unlikely for any cancer caused pain to get better or go away for months and then come back off and on with no treatment. If a cancer is causing pain, it is stretching or pressing on a pain sensitive area. If a cancer is untreated, the pain it causes is more constant and progressive rather than intermittent.

My mother had colon cancer, and survived it for 5 years before passing on. She was adopted, so I know nothing about her parents and so forth.

I was wondering what the chances were of me or my sister inheriting it from my mother.

Also, do you know if I have to be a certain age to get a colonoscopy? Thanks.

It would depend on the type of cancer that your mom had. I had what is called famiel poyposis. It turned into active malignant cancer which it does 100% of the time. It is extremely hereditary and can even skip a generation. The good news is that it can now be detected through genetic tests. I have n ow had 18 surgeries since 1985, the last one being 7 weeks ago.

All I can tell you is to get tested for it regularly. I am still kicking around because we caught mine before it came through the colon wall. Good luck and I hope all goes well.

if he does, does this affect the health of his children in any way, and are the childrens chances of getting (testicular) cancer higher, please need as much info about this as possible . thanks.

My father had testicular cancer at the age of 29; he had the affected testicle removed, and had radiotherapy.

He went on to father three more children, all of them very healthy, as are their children.

No, the children of men who’ve had testicular cancer are not at increased risk of getting it.

My father died aged 76 of something unrelated to cancer.

I know this sounds a bit strange, but hear me out…
A few days ago I used a Mystic Eye (something like an oujii board) and I asked how I would die. It said of "Cancer Colon" and in my 70′s.
I’m a bit of a hypochondriac and this got me thinking. Since then I have had stomach pains (not from being worried) most of the time during the past 3 days. Today I had a pain in the lower part of my chest/upper part of my stomach that later moved to around my right kidney.
My body is achey which it has been for the past few months (the doctor said it was from over-using my muscles from playing bass) today it’s been a bit worse but I’ve been walking around town all day.
The only people in my family to have Cancer are my aunt on my mother’s side who had ovarian cancer and my grandma on my father’s side who had lung cancer (and smoked for many years.) I’m 15 years old.
What are the odds of me getting Colon Cancer?
I also have shortness of breath which I’ve had on and off since my muscles/joints started hurting in the beginning of the summer.
I’m a white male who doesn’t smoke, drink or do any drugs. I don’t eat much meat other than Mcdonalds hamburgers, and occasionally hamburgers off the grill at home.

Colon cancer is asymptomatic until the very late stages. It is not a common cancer for a 15 year old at all. Certain age groups tend to have different types of cancer, not always, but enough to think that age is a factor when determining the types of cancer you can get. Colon cancer is bascially a disease of older people, you hear alot about it because there is educational material teaching the public about the disease (just like smoking and breast cancer receive a great deal of media). This is all good for older people who need this information, but it does little good for people your age.

The types of cancer that teenagers commonly get are often related to growing (growth spurts) and hormones thus you should be looking out for any unusual lumps or bumps located anywhere on the body. Be especially suspicious of any bump that seems to be growing. The types of cancer common to adolescents are:

1. Leukemia – cancer of the blood
2. Osteosarcoma – a type of bone cancer
3. Ewing’s sarcoma – a type of bone cancer
4. Hodgkin’s disease – lymphatic system (lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, adenoids, tonsils, and bone marrow)
5. non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma -lymphatic system (lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, adenoids, tonsils, and bone marrow)
6. Germ cell cancers – Testicular cancer
7. Soft tissue sarcoma – cancer of connective tissue or muscles, example is Rhabdomyosarcoma
8. Brain tumors – not generally common in teens but two forms to watch for include Astrocytomas (from cells in the brain called astrocytes) and Ependymomas (begin in the lining of brain ventricles).
9. Melanoma – skin cancer
10. Thyroid cancer

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/cancer/cancer.html

It is possible to have other types of very rare cancer as a teen too, but the above diseases are the most common and the ones that all teens should become aware of. Each age group should become familiar with the types of cancer common for their age . . it narrows the field of over 200 different kinds of cancer down considerably.

Still, if you have any doubts please go seek out medical advice. Get a complete physical and discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Best.

My dad just told me he has 2nd stage prostate cancer and is 82 yrs old in good shape, race walks every day. He adv he will start radiation treatment tomorrow for 5 days a wk for 9 wks and will rcv hormone shots.

Does anyone else out there know anyone his age who has gone through this or a good/informative website I can go to?

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate

http://www.medicinenet.com/prostate_cancer/page9.htm

hopefully u can find good info on those website

the best of luck to u and your dad

My dad found out recently that he has it. It’s stage one and he’s going with radiation treatment. He’s going to an excellent hospital with world class docotors. I’m worried though, cause he’s my dad. Does anyone have experience with this disease? I know I’m asking for answers but I gotta say I just don’t want to hear any horror stories please. The doctors have given him a really good prognosis, I guess I’m looking for reassurance. Thanks!
My dad is almost 57 and otherwise very healthy.

In the spectrum of cancers, prostate cancer is a relatively "whimpy" cancer. 80% of men by age 85 will have prostate cancer. Most die with it and not of it. Some professional societies debate whether we should even be screening and treating for prostate cancer.

I bet your father will do very well (world class doctors or not).

Dr. Stephen Cohen of Chesapeake Urology Associates talks about his personal experience with testicular cancer and not hesitating seeking professional help.

To learn more about Chesapeake Urology, please call toll-free at 866-955-0002 or visit our website at www.chesapeakeurology.com

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My mom had colon cancer and I was just wondering if there was a certain age that it is recommended I should get checked out.
Thanks!

You have not mentioned your age, even then you should have contact your doctor periodically at least once in 2 years and have the tests done to ensure you do not have the disease.

The U.S. Multisociety Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommends the following screening options:

* Annual fecal occult blood testing
* Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
* Annual fecal occult blood testing plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
* Double contrast barium enema every five years
* Colonoscopy every 10 years

More frequent or earlier screening may be recommended if you’re thought to have a high risk of colon cancer. Explore the benefits and risks of each screening option with your doctor. Together you can determine which colon cancer screening option is best for you. One factor to consider is whether your health insurance provider covers colon cancer screening.-

Hi. Survival rates for victims of prostate cancer are relatively high compared to most other types of cancer. Although there is some room for interpretation, generally, – for those men who have been tested early enough, the 10 year (or more) survival rate is an 80 – 90% value.

It is useful to break up prostate cancer victims into three main groups:

1) If the cancer has not extended beyond the prostate organ itself, the prognosis is best. Members of this group are most likely to find themselves in the high survival class.

2) If the cancer has extended beyond the prostate (e.g. to closely surrounding tissues, or near lymph nodes) there is still a very good likelihood of cure, defined as a 10 year survival rate.

3) If the cancer has extended (metastisized) to far site organs or tissues, i.e. bone, liver, lung or brain; – there is currently treatment on a palliative basis only. There is no known cure at this stage of the disease. If progressed this far, secondary bone cancer is the usual site of incidence.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to be tested as early as possible. The medical community recommends all men test annually after age 50, and that all men who have a relative with a history of prostate cancer test starting annually at age 40.
I SAY testing should start no later than age 30. The PSA blood test is not expensive, so if your medical insurance doesn’t cover, YOU should be happy to pay up.

If a man tests later in life, and finds out then that he has prostate cancer, or worse that the cancer is of the aggressive form or has simply started out as the more usual slow prostate cancer, but has now has enough time to metastisize, – well then than man has been very unlucky indeed; and in my humble opinion has not been well served by the medical community’s advice to test after 50 years of age.

I hope this answer has been of some help to you and your friend. Best regards,

Hi. Survival rates for victims of prostate cancer are relatively high compared to most other types of cancer. Although there is some room for interpretation, generally, – for those men who have been tested early enough, the 10 year (or more) survival rate is an 80 – 90% value.

It is useful to break up prostate cancer victims into three main groups:

1) If the cancer has not extended beyond the prostate organ itself, the prognosis is best. Members of this group are most likely to find themselves in the high survival class.

2) If the cancer has extended beyond the prostate (e.g. to closely surrounding tissues, or near lymph nodes) there is still a very good likelihood of cure, defined as a 10 year survival rate.

3) If the cancer has extended (metastisized) to far site organs or tissues, i.e. bone, liver, lung or brain; – there is currently treatment on a palliative basis only. There is no known cure at this stage of the disease. If progressed this far, secondary bone cancer is the usual site of incidence.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to be tested as early as possible. The medical community recommends all men test annually after age 50, and that all men who have a relative with a history of prostate cancer test starting annually at age 40.
I SAY testing should start no later than age 30. The PSA blood test is not expensive, so if your medical insurance doesn’t cover, YOU should be happy to pay up.

If a man tests later in life, and finds out then that he has prostate cancer, or worse that the cancer is of the aggressive form or has simply started out as the more usual slow prostate cancer, but has now has enough time to metastisize, – well then than man has been very unlucky indeed; and in my humble opinion has not been well served by the medical community’s advice to test after 50 years of age.

I hope this answer has been of some help to you and your friend. Best regards,